PM Majaliwa asks Kariakoo traders to call off strike

 

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa addresses traders at Kariakoo market. PHOTO | PMO

By Bethsheba Wambura

Reporter Mwananchi Communication Ltd

Summary

·         The Prime Minister's plea comes as traders at Tanzania's busiest trading hub closed their shops and went on strike, protesting what they termed oppressive tax laws and collection procedures.

Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has requested Kariakoo traders to call off their strike and open their shops because prolonging the standoff affects them and foreign traders who come into the country to purchase products.

Kariakoo services traders from the DRC, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, among other African countries.

"I am begging you business leaders to agree to open shops even this evening and do business the whole night if need be so that people can come here and shop all night long," Majaliwa said.

He urged the traders to open shops, as he plans to meet their leaders and other traders upcountry on Wednesday to discuss and find a solution to the matter.

The Prime Minister's plea comes as traders at Tanzania's busiest trading hub closed their shops and went on strike, protesting what they termed oppressive tax laws and collection procedures.

The meeting to be held at Anatouglou Hall in Dar es Salaam, will also involve finance minister, industry and trade minister and their assistants, and officials from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).

Following the PM’s request, the chairman of the Kariakoo trader’s community, Mr Martin Mbwana, urged his fellow businesspeople to open their shops as they wait for government to address the issue.

The premier had to leave the Parliament in Dodoma and rush to Dar es Salaam in order to meet Kariakoo traders, who said that if the premier wanted to meet them, then he should come to Dar es Salaam instead of them travelling to Dodoma to meet him, saying that it is their right as taxpayers.

The traders were told by Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Amos Makalla, to go to Dodoma if they wanted to meet the PM, but they turned down the request.

After the RC left, the traders said they wanted to meet President Samia Suluhu Hassan to express their, insisting that their shops would remain closed until then.

Following the demand, Majaliwa arrived at the Kariakoo market to talk to the traders whose shops remained closed, calling for the removal of some government taxes that they claim are oppressive.

"I have left the parliament session in Dodoma to come here to listen to what is going on," the PM told the traders.

After listening to what was troubling the traders, Majaliwa ordered the termination of the taskforce of the Tanzania Revenue Authority that collects taxes from traders at the Kariakoo Market, saying it was against the orders of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

"We have information that there is a taskforce that has been formed and is moving around here (Kariakoo) in efforts to collect taxes, despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan criticizing the use of the taskforce," he said.

The premier therefore instructed the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to cease the use of taskforce, and if there is a need to deploy one, the Minister of Finance must be informed.

He also criticized public servants who referred to the president’s directives on ceasing the use of task forces as "political statements".

The PM also ordered the suspension of the implementation of TRA’s store registration law in order to review how to implement it and educate traders.

Some traders were seen opening their shops as the PM was making his way out of the market.